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Memories & Candles

“Mom, I miss you so much today. Every competitive bone in my body came from watching you on the baseball field. As a Coach and Mother I really feel...Read More »
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1 of 36 | Posted by: Joseph Ward III - Dorchester, MA

“Five long years and I miss you more than ever. My best friend, my sister you are still in my heart and I will love you always.
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2 of 36 | Posted by: Cheryl Frank - Brookline, MA

“It is with our deepest sympathy that we just heard of Barbara's passing. Growing up at the 'settlement' and being friends with Barbara; we have...Read More »
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3 of 36 | Posted by: Diane (Johnson) Swartz - Randolph, MA

“To Joe and family. Tom & I were so sorry to hear about the loss of Barbara. Shocked, at such a young age. She truly was a wonderful, kind and...Read More »
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4 of 36 | Posted by: Tom & Claire Langdon - Marshfield, MA

“Dear Joe, and boys: We are so sorry about Barbara's passing, especially since it was not possible for us to be there with you. We have so many...Read More »
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5 of 36 | Posted by: Jane and Bob Paquette - RI

“My deepest condolences to Mrs. Ward's family and friends. Mrs. Ward was my Gym teacher at the Ohrenberger Elementary School for 6 years. She was so...Read More »
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6 of 36 | Posted by: Ryan Green - London

“Our lives were touched by Barbara in Boulder City, NV. We are blessed to be friends with her sister Anne. When Barb, Sally and Joe would come out,...Read More »
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7 of 36 | Posted by: The Feeney Family - Boulder City, NV

“Ms. Ward was my first gym teacher at the Ohrenberger. I was very sad to hear of her passing. To her family, my sincere sympathy is with you all in...Read More »
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8 of 36 | Posted by: Allyssa Kiser - Atlanta, GA

“Thanks Barbara for starting a women's softball team for all the old bunch that hung together as teenagers. Joe and kids you are in our thoughts and...Read More »
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9 of 36 | Posted by: Bob & Peppy Lynch - West Yarmouth, MA

“Barbara Ward was a great teacher and a great coach. I remember running around the track as warm ups and being exhausted before practice. I try to...Read More »
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11 of 36 | Posted by: Eunice Torres - Malden, MA

“To the Ward and Baxter families,to express anything more than has already been stated, would be redundant and yet for Barbara not nearly enough.Thank...Read More »
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12 of 36 | Posted by: jeff moreno - Natick, MA

“Joe, We were so sorry to hear of your loss. I am so glad we got to visit with you and Barbara this past March at Annie's in Fla. Barbara was such a...Read More »
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13 of 36 | Posted by: Terri & Steve Forde - Westford, MA

“Mrs Ward was an insiration to many students especially disadvantaged city youth. She displayed such a caring and grace and encouraged all to do there...Read More »
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15 of 36 | Posted by: Karen Green - Roslindale, MA

“Our paths have crossed through the years, engagement party, wedding and birthday parties at the Murphys in RI. My thoughts and prayers are with all...Read More »
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16 of 36 | Posted by: melissa (murphy)foster - gray, ME

“Thanks for the memories over a few short years - though short in time they were long in quality and quantity - from the blue of the ocean to the...Read More »
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17 of 36 | Posted by: Jim Breau - Reading, MA

“Baxter/Ward Family I was greatly honored to have met Barbara in high school.We met thru sports of which she loved, we became instant friends....Read More »
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18 of 36 | Posted by: Brenda Moran - Walpole, MA

“Boys, Deeply sorrowed by the loss of Barbara, she was always a courageous woman. May God bless her and grant you all peace. Chris & Barbara
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19 of 36 | Posted by: Chris & Barbara Merrick - MA

“I must say the world is a much smaller place with out Aunt Barbara in it, so many memories, the Chalet, trying to help me learn to swim and skate,...Read More »
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20 of 36 | Posted by: Kimberly Sweeney - Natick, MA

“Joe,Joe,Brendan and James, Debbie and I and the boys are so sorry for your loss. I don't have to tell you how sorry we are. I love you Barbara, but...Read More »
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23 of 36 | Posted by: Nick Inchierca - Chestnuthill, MA

“We are very sad to hear about the passing of our Coach Barbara Ward. She was an amazing softball coach. I will always remember her positive energy...Read More »
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25 of 36 | Posted by: Jessica Santana and Daysa Santana - MA

“When I was young, Barbara was one of the few people to instill belief into my world. Never mind that she was a woman coaching a game dictated mostly...Read More »
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26 of 36 | Posted by: Danny Kanamori - New York, NY

“Dear Joe,Joseph,Brendan,James and family, My thoughts and prayers are with each of you during this very sad time.I admire Barbara's courage and her...Read More »
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27 of 36 | Posted by: Linda Totten - Quincy, MA

“We will always remember Aunt Barbara as fun loving, energetic and full of life. She had such a vibrant spirit. We are blessed to have had her in...Read More »
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28 of 36 | Posted by: The Beauregard Family - RI

“I am heartbroken to learn of the death of my dear friend, Barbara. She was such a positive, up-beat, outstanding person. She was full of life,...Read More »
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30 of 36 | Posted by: Nancy Piscatelli - N. Falmouth, MA

“Joe and Family, I will always remember Barbara as an outstanding teacher, coach, colleague and friend. She was person who counted and could be...Read More »
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31 of 36 | Posted by: Cheryl Lebenson - Cambridge, MA

“To Joe, your sons and all members of the Ward & Baxter families: Barbara was one of a kind. She was a tremendous athlete but a far greater human...Read More »
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32 of 36 | Posted by: Jerry Quinn - Lutherville, MD

“Joe, Peter and I send our heartfelt condolences on the loss of Barbara. She will be misssed by all who knew her.
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33 of 36 | Posted by: Peter and Betsy Brennan - Naples, FL

Sympathy Flowers

WARD, BarbaraF. (Baxter). Entered into eternal rest surrounded by her family on August 14, 2012. Beloved wife of Joseph G. Ward, Jr. Loving mother of Joseph G. Ward, III of Boston, Brendan B. Ward of Chestnut Hill and James J. Ward of Boston. Devoted daughter of the late James J. and Mary S. "Sally" (Gardner) Baxter. Dear sister of Anne K. Baxter of Boulder City, NV., John J. Baxter and wife Barbara of West Roxbury, Sally Connors and husband Paul of Canton and the late Ronnie Baxter Smith. Also survived by many nieces and nephews. Funeral from the Bell-O'Dea Funeral Home, 376 Washington St., BROOKLINE Saturday morning at 9:10 followed by a Funeral Mass in St. Lawrence Church, Chestnut Hill at 10:00. Relatives and friends are kindly invited. Visiting hours in the funeral home on Friday from 4 – 8. Interment Walnut Hills Cemetery. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Jimmy Fund, www.jimmyfund.org. Retired Teacher Boston Public Schools where she taught for 34 years primarily at The English High School and the Ohrenberger Elementary School in West Roxbury. As a standout athlete Barbara was inducted into The English High Hall of Fame in 2000, the Brookline High School Athletic Hall of Fame 2003 and the New England Women's Hall of Fame 2010. She was well known in Brookline and Boston for mentoring of young athletes, and she was a coach to many champions.

Memories & Candles

sorry i cant be with you. sending you my heartfelt thoughts and deepest sympathies. annette and family.

Posted by: annette parker - chestnut hill, MA Aug 16, 2012

Please accept my heart felt sympathy.

Posted by: Pam Frank - Boulder City, NV Aug 16, 2012

Joe,Joe,Brendan and James, Debbie and I and the boys are so sorry for your loss. I don't have to tell you how sorry we are. I love you Barbara, but you knew that. I've told you many times. I missed you since the last time I saw you.

Posted by: Nick Inchierca - Chestnuthill, MA Aug 16, 2012

So sorry for your loss, i am so glad i saw Barbara not to long ago. Warm thoughts...Billy

Posted by: WILLIAM JONES, JR. - HOLLYWOOD, FL Aug 16, 2012

We are very sad to hear about the passing of our Coach Barbara Ward. She was an amazing softball coach. I will always remember her positive energy and her patience. Everytime I hear the words "alligator" I think about her. Please accept our most heartfelt sympathies for your loss. Our thoughts are with you during this difficult time. Sincerely, The English High Softball Team class of 2003 and 2007

When I was young, Barbara was one of the few people to instill belief into my world. Never mind that she was a woman coaching a game dictated mostly by men, she was a courageous mentor, role model and friend. As I outgrew little league, she probably never knew the sense of satisfaction I had when seeing her, but there was always a will to show off any accomplishment that may have been engendered from her passion and empathy. If

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When I was young, Barbara was one of the few people to instill belief into my world. Never mind that she was a woman coaching a game dictated mostly by men, she was a courageous mentor, role model and friend. As I outgrew little league, she probably never knew the sense of satisfaction I had when seeing her, but there was always a will to show off any accomplishment that may have been engendered from her passion and empathy. If ever there were reason to celebrate the benefits of team sports, it was in the embodiment of Barbara Ward. I heard the news through a friend's message, he wrote "a legendary coach has passed." He was spot on. My deepest sympathy to her family and my sincerest thank you to Barbara for changing my world.

Posted by: Danny Kanamori - New York, NY Aug 16, 2012

Dear Joe,Joseph,Brendan,James and family, My thoughts and prayers are with each of you during this very sad time.I admire Barbara's courage and her family's strength during these past few years.She had such a zest for life and touched the lives of so many people.Barbara was a wonderful friend, I will truly miss her. Love, Linda

Posted by: Linda Totten - Quincy, MA Aug 16, 2012

We will always remember Aunt Barbara as fun loving, energetic and full of life. She had such a vibrant spirit. We are blessed to have had her in our lives. Her spirit lives on in us through all the great memories. We will all miss her greatly, so sad to say goodbye.

Posted by: The Beauregard Family - Cumberland, RI Aug 16, 2012

Dear Joe, Anne, John, Sally & family, Our heartfelt sympathy on the passing of your loving and beautiful wife, sister and mother. We were shocked to read the news and so deeply saddened. She will truly be missed by so many. Barbara had a true passion for life and lived it . We always admired her energy and enthusiasm, that great smile and contagious laugh. Your in our thoughts and prayers. Sincerely John & Kathy

Posted by: John & Kathy Lynch - West Roxbury, MA Aug 16, 2012

I am heartbroken to learn of the death of my dear friend, Barbara. She was such a positive, up-beat, outstanding person. She was full of life, vibrant and giving. How many times did she buy clothes or shoes/sneakers for a student who was needy? How many times did she encourage a student who was lost? Far too many times to count ... Barbara inspired others to reach their full potential. She brought out the best in everyone she met because

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I am heartbroken to learn of the death of my dear friend, Barbara. She was such a positive, up-beat, outstanding person. She was full of life, vibrant and giving. How many times did she buy clothes or shoes/sneakers for a student who was needy? How many times did she encourage a student who was lost? Far too many times to count ... Barbara inspired others to reach their full potential. She brought out the best in everyone she met because we all wanted to be like her. She always went above and beyond to help others. It was my honor to have worked with her for so many years at the Ohrenberger. I will miss her dearly.